After two losses and a tie in their last three Pac-10 games, the Cal women's soccer team needed a win against Arizona. And on Sunday, the Bear's defense locked down the Wildcats to ensure a 2-0 result.

"Defensively, we were much more organized than we have been," Cal coach Neil McGuire said. "To allow a quality offensive unit only three shots is a very good thing. We worked on picking up split-balls and today they didn't get in behind us. "

The Wildcats (8-8, 1-4 in the Pac-10) chose to move the ball around their backline to create space, looking for a checking midfielder at feet, hardly looking to bypass the central level.

But the Bears' defense did well shifting to cover the short midfield run and foiled the Wildcat's offensive efforts. Arizona was not given the room to take a single shot in the first half.

"We discussed our shape in the midfield, and we were definitely more organized," junior Katie Oakes said. "If we are organized then the whole team will play better and today we were on point."

The Bears (10-5-1, 3-2-1) played quick off the ball, and pressed the issue from the opening minute. Yet it was the Arizona defense that kept the Cal from its usual open opportunities, leading to a scoreless first half.

The Wildcats picked up their pace right out of halftime, as they kept their attack well grounded yet began to play more vertically, stretching their well-compacted play.

And in the 58th-minute, Katie Oakes slotted a hard through ball from the top of the box to a slashing Katie Benz. The ball deflected in traffic, but still managed to find its way to Benz' foot, who tucked it into the right corner for the 1-0 lead.

But the lead was not challenged as Jorden Lafontaine-Kussman was forced to make just one save to grab her first shutout of the season. But McGuire isn't too sure who will be in goal come next weekend, as the Bears will face No.4 UCLA and No.11 USC.

"In regards to our keeper situation, we are taking it one game at a time," McGuire said. "Gina Pellegrini has performed admirably all season, but (Lafontaine-Kussman) looked extremely sharp this past week and we thought this was an appropriate decision."

Kussman received some extra help from sophomores Megan Jesolva and Alex Morgan, who were with the U.S. U-20 National Team and were not available for Friday's 2-2 draw against Arizona State.

Jesolva played a full 90 minutes on Saturday helping to lift the U.S. over Canada 1-0, and still had enough in the tank for another 90 on Sunday.

Her national counterpart, sophomore Alex Morgan, also had her presence felt.

In the 76th, Morgan turned about five yards from the top of the box, rolled herself horizontally and casually struck a rising line drive into the left upper-v, with a defender in tow.

"I was very proud of our girls on Friday, but Alex and Megan give our team a different dynamic," McGuire said. "But this is a team sport and getting through this weekend shows that we are battle tested with or without our national team players."

Tags: CAL WOMEN'S SOCCER, NEIL MCGUIRE